CA Shield Final: Crusaders 4-3 Linfield

Crusaders scored 2 late goals to turn the County Antrim Shield final on its head and beat Linfield 4-3 at Seaview to defend their title.

David Cushley popped up with a 91st minute header as the North Belfast side took the lead for the first time on the night to round off a manic game that took place in horrendous weather conditions.

It was the Blues that took an 8th minute lead after a Kirk Millar corner from the right. The wind whipped it in towards Sean O'Neill who could only palm it onto the bar, leaving Mark Stafford free to stoop and head into an empty net from 2 yards out to score his first goal since October.

In the 28th minute a Crusaders long ball was thrown forward to Jordan Owens, who headed it into the path of David Cushley to smash a trademark 20-yard piledriver which flew past Linfield keeper Conor Mitchell on his debut.

Linfield were back in front within a minute after Billy Joe Burns slipped, letting Andy Waterworth steal the ball. The striker's low shot was saved by O'Neill, but he palmed into path of Millar for tap in from 6 yards.

Within another 60 seconds, the Blues went 3-1 up.

It was the only the 30th minute when Millar crossed from the right, with BJ Burns trying to clear with a header - but he thumped the ball against his own captain Colin Coates, who couldn't help but deflect it into his own net.

2 down at the break, Crues manager Stephen Baxter threw on Kyle Owens and Ross Clarke in place of Michael Ruddy and Rory Hale.

Clarke soon set up Jordan Forsythe to tap into the net from close range, but the winger was offside before his cross from the right, and the goal was disallowed.

With an hour played, Coates rose highest from a Forsythe corner and glanced a header into the far corner of the net to bring his the Crues to within a goal of David Healy's side with plenty of time left on the clock. 2 minutes later, Coates rattled another header off the post after a corner from the same side.

With just 2 minutes of normal time left to play that Crusaders scored the equaliser. Cushley smashed in a corner from the left, and Forsythe was completely unmarked to volley past the keeper from close range.

In the 91st minute Crusaders took the lead for the first time in the game, with Cushley thumping in a header from Forsyhte's delivery to win the final in dramatic circumstances.